From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpushpush1 /pʊʃ/ ●●●S1W1 verb1move [intransitive, transitive]PUSH to make someone or something move by pressing them with your hands, arms etc opp pullIt didn’t move, so she pushed harder.I promised to push him on the swings for as long as he wanted.shoppers pushing their grocery cartspush somebody/something away/back/aside etcShe pushed him away.Maria pushed her hair back from her forehead.push somebody/something towards/into etc somethingPhilip pushed him towards the door.push something open/shutI slowly pushed the door open.2button/switch [intransitive, transitive]SWITCH ON OR OFF to press a button, switch etc in order to make a piece of equipment start or stop working syn pressI got in and pushed the button for the fourth floor.Push the green button to start the engine.3try to get past [intransitive]PUSH to use your hands, arms etc to make people or things move, so that you can get past themDon’t push. Everyone will get a turn.push (your way) past/through/into etcA fat man pushed past me in his rush to leave.She pushed her way to the front.4encourage [transitive]FORCE somebody TO DO something to encourage or force someone to do something or to work hardEncourage your kids to try new things, but try not to push them too hard.athletes who push their bodies to the limitpush yourselfHe’s been pushing himself too hard, working 12-hour days.push somebody into (doing) somethingMy husband pushed me into leaving the job.push somebody to do somethingThe teachers pushed the students to achieve.5persuade [intransitive, transitive] to try to persuade people to accept your ideas, opinions etc in order to achieve somethingThe president is trying to push his agenda in Congress.push forHe was pushing hard for welfare reform.push to do somethingCompany representatives are pushing to open foreign markets to their products.push something on somebodyWe don’t try to push our religion on anyone.6change [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to change someone’s situation, or to make a situation change, especially when some people do not want it to changeThe law would push even more children into poverty.attempts to push the peace process forward7increase/decrease [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to increase or decrease an amount, value, or numberpush something up/downSlow sales have pushed down orders.push something higher/lowerNew technology has pushed the cost of health care even higher.8army [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if an army pushes somewhere, it moves in that directionThe army was pushing north.We pushed deep into enemy territory.9advertise [transitive] informalBBAADVERTISE to try to sell more of a product by advertising it a lotSports stars earn big bucks for pushing everything from shoes to soft drinks.10drugs [transitive] informalMDD to sell illegal drugs →pusher11 →be pushing 40/50 etc12 →push your luck/push it13 →push something out of your mind14 →push (somebody’s) buttons15 →push the boat out16 →push the point17 →push the envelope18 →be pushing up (the) daisies19technical [transitive] to automatically send your email to your smartphone, so that you receive it immediately →pushed, pushingTHESAURUSpush to make something or someone move by pressing them with your hands, arms etcPush the door, don’t pull it.She pushed him away and walked out.shove to push someone or something in a rough or careless wayPeople were shoving to get to the front of the queue.Tom shoved his suitcase under the bed.stuff informal to push something quickly and carelessly into a small spaceShe stuffed a few clothes into a bag and left.poke to push someone or something with your finger or something sharpI poked the snake with a stick but it was dead.nudge to push someone beside you gently with your elbow to get their attentionToby nudged me and pointed out of the window.roll to push something round or something on wheels so that it moves forwardThey rolled the logs down the hill.The car still didn’t start so we tried to roll it off the road.wheel to push something with wheels, for example a bicycle or a trolley, so that it moves forward, while guiding it with your handsRob wheeled his bike round the back of the house. →push ahead →push along →push somebody around →push somebody/something aside →push yourself forward →push in →push off →push on →push somebody/something ↔ over →push something ↔ through→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

push• Can you tell the people at the back of the queue to stop pushing!• Paul held the door open for a woman pushing a trolley of heavy books.• His back was pushed against the wall as a youth set about him.• The Woman pushed at the door, behind Doyle's chair, and when he moved sideways she stepped in.• She raised her eyes heavenwards and pushed by him.• It's still stuck - you'll have to push harder.• I got tired of Robinpushing her environmental agenda at the office.• Anyone caught pushingheroin or cocaine is given a long prisonsentence.• Mallachy, indeed, was inclined to push his luck with Rory.• Pushing his plate to one side he called for the waiter.• Coach Koepple pushes his players pretty hard.• He pushed his way through the crowd.• The car had run out of gas so they pushed it into a side-street.• Revlon is really pushing its new range of beautycreams.• "Who was at the door?" "It was some guypushingmagazinesubscriptions."• My parents keep pushing me to get a good job.• Mum, William pushed me!• She pushed open the door to the sitting-room.• She pushed past me to the front of the line.• Cursing, he began cutting it up, pushing the shorter strands on to his spoon.• She pushed the table into a corner of the classroom.• She was part of the first generation that really pushed the whole idea of reconciliation.• Shoppers were pushing their carts around the supermarket.• There's no need to push. There are enough tickets for everyone.• Animal-rights groups are pushing to ban the capture of dolphins.• Don't let them push you into a making a decision before you're ready.• Are you sure you want to marry me? I don't want to push you into anything.push (your way) past/through/into etc• United manager Keegan could push through a £750,000 deal for 22-year-old Hignett after the visit of Watford.• Then, with a sound of disgust, Feargal pushed past her and went into the house.• Students should also be pushed through more quickly.• The first I heard of my part in Talking Heads was when the script was pushed through my letterbox.• The Government has already appointed a legal team in an effort to push through the building proposals.• It was his energy and determination which had pushed through the previous two projects despite the problems and the risks.• But his single-minded determination to push through the single currency against rising opposition is producing precisely the opposite effect.• They run upstairs and push past the uniformedpolicemanguarding the door of the apartment.push ... hard• Clench the jaws, as if chewing hard, while pushing your tongue hard against the roof of your mouth.• I could be pushing people too hard and they could be planning to walk out the door.• Thinking his number was up, Peterpushed down hard and went underneath the glider.• Still, it comes at a time when gays and lesbians are pushing hard for the right to wed.• Big agricultural businesses, primarily in California, pushed hard for the temporary workers.• With Republicans controlling the House of Representatives by only a few seats, both sides have pushed hard for their preferred figures.• They responded by pushing hard into corporatefinance, seeking to use shareholdings as a door-opener.• And with the trebleboost you can push it hard, smoothly into distortion.pushing hard• Meanwhile, though, Titan is pushing hard for a commercialstronghold.• Still, it comes at a time when gays and lesbians are pushing hard for the right to wed.• They responded by pushing hard into corporate finance, seeking to use shareholdings as a door-opener.• During that time he has been pushing hard to make up any lost ground.